Shipping and display carton



Feb. 7, 1961 Filed June 20, 1960 L. MAYER 2,970,685

SHIPPING AND DISPLAY CARTON 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 BY j 3641M 4. 1 94 Arm/wiry Feb.- 7, 1961 L. MAYER SHIPPING AND DISPLAY CARTON 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 20, 1960 INVENTOR.

LOU/6" M19 YER aulwry- 1 $4 4 A TTOR/V'YS Feb. 7, 1961 MAYER 2,970,685

- SHIPPING AND DISPLAY CARTON Filed June 20, 1960 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 SHIPPING AND DISPLAY CARTON Louis Mayer, Jackson Heights, N.Y., assignor to Owens- Illinois Glass Company, a corporation of Ohio Filed June 20, 19 0, Ser. No. 31,37; 7 Claims. (Cl. 20644) This invention relates to an improved construction of a carton of the type which can be employed both lfor" the shipment and display ofarticles contained therein.

The carton of the present invention is also of the type which can be formed by folding a single blank of material such as corrugated board. Cartons of this type conventionally include side and end wall panels with the top and bottom of the carton being formed by flapson each The present invention provides aconfor display purposes, means are provided to permit the retained in an unfolded position. In unfolded position,

portions of the front and end walls of the carton are also opened up in order to better display the articles, and also to make a more durable display container by employing the unfolded carton portions to re-enforce and stiffen the carton structure.

1 The invention will be briefly described as follows: a four-sided carton with a top and a bottom, has the top For formed by flaps hinged to each of the side walls. convenience, one pair of opposite side walls will be refe'r redto asthe front and rear carton walls, the other pair of opposite side walls being referred to as the end walls, When used as a shipping container, the top flaps are all folded inwardly andsealed in the conventional manner. In order to convert the carton into a display. container, a score line is provided on the front wall parallel to thelower edge thereof and at a distance from the lower edge which preferably does not exceed one half the height of the front wall.. The portion of the front wall above the score line and the top flap attached to the front wallare foldable into over-lapping relation with the front wall portion below the score line and the carton bottom, means such as slits or perforations being employed at the end edges of the front wall above the .Score line so that the front wall can be separated from the carton ends for this folding operation. Each end wall is provided with a hinge line which extends downwardly from theupper rear end wall corner at an acute angle to the rear end wall edge.

This hinge line preferably extends down to the level of the score line on the front panel. A second hinge line is formed across each end Wall top'flap from the upper rear end wall corner at an intersection of these hinge lines defining two corner panels and a corner panel tab on each'end wall top flap. "These corner panels can be folded outwardly of theend wall flap and interlocked by the corner panel table form a corner structure which can be swung about the first mentioned hinge line onthe end wall panel to place. thecorner structure into overlapping engagemeat with the adjacent lower rear corner of the/carton- "ice Patented Feb. 7, 1961 and also into overlappingengagement with the folded front wall and top flap thereof.

Thus the top flap of each end wall and top flap of the front wall are interlocked and retained in unfolded position, anda very attractive, substantial display container is formed as will be more fully apprepricated from the representative construction examples disclosed and described herein. The top flap of the rear wall of the carton is merely folded outwardly so that its inner surface can thereby be employed for purposes of advertisin or pricing.

Presently preferred examples of the construction of the invention are shown in the accompanying drawings which .consist of. the following views:

. Fig'urel, a plan view of a blank used in forming a carton of the invention; 1

Figure 2, a perspective view showing a carton constructed from the blank of Figure 1 converted to a display container; r

Figure 3, a perspective view similar to Figure 2 show- .ing the carton in. the initial stage of its conversion to a top flaps to be unfolded, thereby opening the carton, and

Figure 5, a plan view of a blank for an alternate form of carton construction;

Figure 6, an end elevation showing a display container formed from the blank of Figure 5; and

Figure 7, a sectional end elevation of the structure shown in Figure 6.

The carton illustrated in Figures 2-4 is formed from a blank of corrugated board such as illustrated in Figfront panel 11, a score line 20 defines the lower edge and a foldable bottom flap 21, and a score line 22 a foldable top flap 24. A bottom fiap 26 and a top flap 28 are similarly defined on the rear panel 13 by score lines 29 and 30 respectively. The blank is cut on the lines 32 and 33 to separate the front top fiap" .24 from the adjacent end flaps 16, and is also cut along the line 34 to separate the rear top fiap 28 from the adjacent end fi'ap..

With the possible exception of the fact that the top flap of each side panel is considerably larger in area than is the bottom flap thereof, the construction of the blank as described so far follows conventional practice and enables the blank to be folded to form a four-sided carton having top'and bottom walls provided by these top and bottom flaps. The general configuration of this carton can be best visualized from Figure 3. Strips of tape (not shown for clarity) are employed tohold the carton in assembled relation in the usual manner.

In order to make the carton convertible into a dis play container, the front panel 11 of the blank of Figure 1 is provided with ascore lin'e'40 extending parallel to the lower edge line 20 and spaced from this edge line a distance equal to approximately one half the height of the 'front panel (actually one-half the distance between the lines 20 and 22, less an allowance for the thickness of the corrugated boardmate'rial). The portion 41 of each front panel end edge line. 42 above :the score} r the end flaps 16.

line iii-"can be folded downwardly into overlapping re- --lat-ionwith the front--panel-portion -44 below.the..score line 46 which extends from thefuppersrear corner 48-of each end panel at an- 'acute ang le-to the rear edge 50 "thereof. Prefer-ably this hinge-line 46 extends down- The construction of the remainder of the carton is the same as, previouslyv described, except for changes in prowardly to the levelof -the--score line 40 on the front panel 11.

A second hinge line s2-extends from each of rthe upper rearcorners 48 acrosseach of theendflaps .16, with the angle between the I second t line; 52- and. the. first hinge line '46 being substantially-equal to theacute angle between the latter line and the rear edge line 50. IHinge line 52 isintersected at right angles :by a score line 54, the intersection '55. of; the lines 52 and 54 being-located from the upper rear corner' 48;a 'distanceequal 'tothe end wall height. The portion of each scoreline 52 beyond the intersection 55 is cut or perforatedandiprovided with a tongue 56, and a-notchS-S iscutalong-score line 54 as indicated in Figure 1. *The intersecting score lines 52 and 54 on each of the end flaps 116 define a pair of corner areas or panels-60 and 62, togethenwith a corner panel tab64, each of these portions 60, 62.31111 64 being generally triangular in shape.

When the shipping container is opened, the corner panels 60 and 62 canlbe folded outwardlylas shown in Figure 3, the corner panel tabL64canbe foldedover the corner-panel 62 and the tongue 56iofthe tab 64 engaged in the notch jSS as shown iniFigures3 and 4. As a result,

an interlocked corner 'structure .isprovided on each .of This corner structure, together with the triangular portion 64 lying above the hinge line 46 on each of the end walls 10 and. 12, cancbc swung outwardly and downwardly into overlapping engagement with the adjacent lower rear corner of the container and into overlapping engagement with.the previously folded top flap 24 of the front wall. When therear top flap 1 28 is swung outwardly, thesresultingdisplay container appears "as shown in .FigureHZ. A'll of the top flaps,

with the exception :of the flap 28, whose inner surface can be used for advertising andpricing the contents, are interlocked in anunfoldedposition inwhich portions of the front and end walls .oft-he container .have been openedto :better and more i attractively display the contents. These unfolded endand .front flap portionstogether with portions -.of the front. and end .walls act to reinforce the structure.

The construction shownin Figs. 5-7 is similar. except as to the provision, made .forunfolding the front panel audits top flap to convert into a displaycontainer. Front panel 11a of the blank of Fig. 5.. is provided with a first score line 70 parallel. to the lower edge120 defining a segment 73,.and the end edges72 of the front 11a are cut or perforatedbetween line 70 and the upper edge line 22. A second score line.74 is alsoprovided, being spaced from line .70 adistance-equal to the-spacing between the latter line and the lower edge 20 plus an allowance for the thickness of the material of the blank, and defining a segment 75. The front top flap 24a is scribed with a score line 76 parallelto the frontlines 70-and 74 and Consequently, when the acarton tis opened :and con- .-verted to a display container, .thejfrontpanel 11a and its v top flap 24a can be folded to superimpose the front'panel portion 75 between lines 70xand 74 overthe portion 73 between line .70and the lowergedge 20,:portionsofthe front panel and top. flap between lines v7 4; and 76 ,over -theabottom'-ofthe;.carton,y and the portion 7 7 of; the top 1'- fiap between-line .76; and- :the a flap;- edge .78. ;over the; rear portioning, and hence the same reference numbers are used. When the interlocked corner structure is formed on the end panel flaps and swung into engagement with the adjacent lower rear corner of the container, the previously unfolded top flap 24a and front panel portions are positively interlocked in position in engagement with the bottom and opposite. .or, rear side, of the container, as shown in Figs. 6 and 7.

."While preferred. embodiments 'have .been rlescrib ed above indetail, it will be understood.that,;numerous modifications might be resorted to without departing from the scope of the invention as defined inthe following claims.

I claim:

1. In a four-sided carton of the type having front, rear and end walls, a bottom, and a top formed by flaps hinged to said walls, means for retaining the top flaps of said end walls and said front wall in an ,open position whereby said carton can be employed :as. a display containencomprising a score line extending. acrosssaid frontwall parallel and'in spaced relation with.the lower edge, thereof,

means for separating the portion of :said front wall above said score line from said. endwalls, means whereby the top flap and upper portion of said frontwall abovesaid score line may be folded outwardly, downwardly and -in- :wardly to place at least a portion; of said-front-wall top flap under said bottom; each of saidend walls being provided with a hinge line extending-from the upper rear the vertical end wall edge at said upper rear corner; a fold line on each end wall top flap extending from said supper rear end wall corner at an angle to said end wall hinge line equal to said acute angle; asecond fold-line on each end wall top flap, said second foldlineextending at rightangles to said first fold line and .being v located at a distance from said upper rear end wall corner adistance substantially equal to the end wall height, said first and second fold lines defining a pair of cornerpanelsanda corner panel tab which are adapted to be folded outwardly of the plane of said'end wall top flap, interlocking means onflsaid corner panel tab for retainingsaid pair of corner panelsrin a corner structure; andsaid corner structure being foldable about said end-wall hingeline -,to place said corner structure in overlapping engagement with said front Wall top flap and the bottomand wall of said carton.

12. The carton according to claim 1 wherein said means for folding the top flap and upper portion of said front wallincludes the hinge-line betweentsaid front. wall a nd the-top fiapthereof.

Y 3. A carton according .toclaim 1 wherein themeans for folding the top flap and uppcrportion of saidiront .wall comprises a second score line extending acrosssaid front-wall parallel to said firstvscore lineand spaced, at distance therefromsubstantially equal thereto the distance between said first score line and the lower edge of said front wall, and a third score line extendingacross said front wall top flap at a distance from said seconds core line substantially equal to the distance between the outer faces got the front and rear walls of said. carton. whereby l t upp por i of sa f o -w and a d tqnjflap thereof can be folded in overlapping.relationwithlhe portion ofsaid front wall below said first scoreline the bottom of said carton, and with at least a. portionof the rear wall of said carton adjacent the bottom thereof.

4. In a four-sided carton of the type having front, .rear and end walls, a bottom, and a top formed by flaps hinged to said walls, means for converting .said carton into t-Qflispl co n mp n a 1 ss i xtend n -flau wardlyacross each end wallh from the uppenrearcorner thereof ,to the vertical edge of the front wall, .said,h1nge line formingauacute .angle with the ,yertical-lend. wall 5 l edge at said corner, a fold line on each end wall top flap extending from said upper rear end wall corner at an angle to said end Wall hinge line equal to said acute angle; a second fold line on each end Wall top flap, said second fold line extending at right angles to said first fold line and being located at a distance from said upper rear end wall corner a distance substantially equal to the end wall height, said first and second fold lines defining a pair of corner panels, interlocking means for retaining said pair of corner panels in a corner structure and said corner structure being foldable about said end Wall hinge line to place said corner structure in overlapping engagement with a lower rear corner of said carton.

5. A carton according to claim 4 wherein said means for converting said carton into a display container further includes means for exposing at least that portion of the front carton Wall above the level of the intersection of said end wall hinge lines with the said front wall vertical edges.

6. A carton according to claim 5 wherein said exposing means comprises a score line extending across said front wall and said level and means for folding the portion of said front wall above said score line and said front Wall top flap to place said front Wall top flap for overlapping engagement by the said corner structure of said end Wall top flaps.

7. In a four-sided carton having a bottom and a top formed by flaps hinged to at least some of the sides, means for retaining a top flap in an open position comprising a hinge line extending across the side to which such top flap is secured from one upper corner of such side at an acute angle with the vertical edge at said corner, a fold line extending across said top flap from said one upper corner at an angle to said hinge line substantially equal to said acute angle, a second fold line on said top flap extending at right angles to and intersecting said first fold line a distance from said one upper corner substantially equal to the height of the side to which such top flap is secured, said first and second fold lines defining a pair 1 of corner panels adapted to be folded outwardly of the plane of said top flap, means for interlocking said corner panles in a corner structure, said corner structure being foldable about said hinge line for overlapping engagement with the corner of said carton below the said one upper corner thereof.

No references cited. 

